TARAJULI, May 14: Lalit variety guava saplings were distributed to the farmers here under Papum Pare district on Thursday by the Secretary Agriculture Bidol Tayeng.
Altogether 10 farmers from different parts of state received the saplings by maintaining the social distancing norm and the distribution programme was arranged by Likha Maj, promoter of the Mega Food Park Project. Talking to media, Maj informed that 50 thousand Lalit variety guava saplings will be distributed to the farmers across the state. “Once the food park starts, there will be requirement of 14 thousand MT raw materials and  to meet a part of the need we are providing this variety of sapling  and interested farmers can contact their respective Horticulture Officer to procure them,” he said. Further, he informed that last year 50 thousand guava saplings were given free of cost to the farmers of the Yachuli AC. 
Secretary Horticulture while informing  that Lalit variety guava is promoted by ICAR Lucknow and is suited for Arunachal Pradesh, said that the Food Park near Banderdewa will be ready within next two years. “Road construction has started and once it is completed, farmers of state will be having a ready market to sell their produce,” he said. He also said that state government is giving emphasis on the agri-horti sector and accordingly, fund allocation has been increased in last few years.
While reacting over the recent vegetable and meat crisis witnessed during the lockdown, he said people of the state should promote local farmers. “The cheap agri-horti and meat items from Assam make their way to the state especially in the Capital Region and people rush to buy these items even though they are not organic. Our farmers produce organic items,  which may be slightly high on rate but are more health-friendly. It’s time to buy local and live healthy,” Tayeng said, adding that the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) will have to come out with a proper policy to promote local farmers. 
Director Horticulture Jummar Rime and CEO APMC Okit Paling were also present during the programme.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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